Am I an international student? (long background, serious help needed)

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, here's my story.</p>

<p>My dad moved to America from China in 03' to pursue his masters here. Then my mom and I (we are family of 3) moved here consequently in 04'. </p>

<p>Since then I attended 6th grade, middle school, and currently a high school sophomore. </p>

<p>During this time, a lot of things have happened. My dad got his masters, and is working on his PHD, my mom is done with her masters (she started working on that one year after we moved here). While my mother got pregnant in 05 and had a baby sister for me last year =-| (mixed feelings.)</p>

<p>My family (on a broader perspective) is very interesting. My aunt on my dad's side resides in NY, they are sorta at the higher percentile of middle-class, their daughter (my cousin) attends MIT. My other uncle (dad's side) attends NYU and his wife attends NYU too, they are pretty settled down. The rest of my family (80%) resides in China, they are all ordinary people that knows their places.</p>

<p>On the serious side, my immediate family</p>

<p>-Live in Alaska, small town of 60k, never moved (well a bit in town)
-Status: my parents are both F1 visa, i am F2. My mother ended her masters and is currently interning half-time in a state facility (taking care of my sister half time)
-No health insurance, do not own property (no house, we rent)
-Monetary source is solely from my parents' scholarship/grant for their degree-pursuing study/researches. My mother is on the states payroll for her internship
-Our monthly income is about $800 per person (divided among 4 people). And I have about 50k for college. We do not receive the permanent fund dividend.
-I cannot work. (no SSN)</p>

<p>Personal side:
-Fluent Chinese(able to read + write at an intermediate/advanced level)
-HS sophomore. Do not have a language barrier (my english is all caught up since i moved here).
-I am very bright, responsible, and outgoing. Very fit for academic and social interactions.
-4.0 unweighted GPA (well currently 3.66, but will work up to a 4.0 by end of the year) Taking 2 AP classes right now, Calc BC and Physics (I m done with math and science required credits. But I ll take AP chem and bio for electives)
-Not very active in clubs, trying to amend that starting this year. Current semi-active member of keyclub
-Mathcounts (pfft) alumni, coaching ele/middle school kids
-(sort of)active volunteer. participate in my church, helping around community somehow.
-Varsity Tennis player
-Have readily accessible university resources, able to take courses for free.
-Will have 4 years of Spanish Experience (trilingual ^o^)</p>

<p>-I will study economics (havent really decided yet, but that's the large picture. I am particularly interested in investment, banking, stocks, financial stuff.)
-I want to apply for Berkeley or Stanford. Researching about other schools too.</p>

<p>I am doing some independent study Spanish right now, after that I ll start working on some test preps. </p>

<p>I think I ll need the SAT for sure, along with subject tests. I ll take the mandatory AP test along with my AP classes.</p>

<p>This is our current status. Based on this, what can you say about my future college applying experience? What are my chances?</p>

<p>-the question is, do i count as an "international student". If i am, do I need TOFEL(i assume that would be easy as cake) or other stuff.</p>

<hr>

<p>On the speculative side:</p>

<p>My dad is working on a job opening for a research professor. So he will no longer be a student, but a university faculty. </p>

<p>Thus my status will change, from F2 to probably some sort of J status. </p>

<p>My family would be able to earn about 50-60k together.</p>

<p>I would have health insurance, we would by a house and such. Overall, the living condition would improve, but i do not know how that will affect my college applying process.</p>

<p>We would not acquire a green card (pretty sure) during the rest 3 years of my high school</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>so here it is, give me your opinions. If you are under the same status, or knows someone like me, your opinion is definitely appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Unless you hold an active green card or US citizenship, you'll be considered an International applicant as far as US colleges are concerned.</p>

3

<p>wow, i never thought of it that simply</p>

<p>i am "international" even though i live with Americans, studied almost 6 years in their primary education leveled schools?</p>

<p>I thought international is more like kids graduating from high school in another nation, then applying for an American college.</p>

<p>-</p>

<p>Other than that, what is the assessment for my current status? What should i work on now in order to secure a smooth college applying experience?</p>

<p>What are my advantages comparing to my classmates? My disadvantages?</p>

4

<p>T26E4 is correct -- from the information you supplied, you will be applying as an international student.</p>

<p>What that means is that you will be in a very competitive pool -- especially since you are Chinese. On the other hand -- you are working hard, seem to be on the right track and are challenging yourself. </p>

<p>Keep reading the boards and getting ideas -- you will see that many students aiming for top schools not only have the scores and GPA, but interests and activities that are also top notch. That is where you are currently lacking.</p>

<p>you family finances, ownership of a home, etc are not such a huge part of the picture -- you either need FA or you don't. I am confused by your statement that you have 50K for college -- is that is some type of college savings account, then you won't qualify for aid the first year (they will expect that money to be used).</p>

<p>also -- a 4.0 GPA unweighted means that you received an A in every class you have ever taken. Once you get a B, you can't ever get that 4.0 back. So your statement that you "currently 3.66, but will work up to a 4.0 by end of the year" doesn't make sense. It would be good to bring it up -- a 3.66 is low for the schools you named, but it doesn't have to be a perfect 4.0</p>

5

<p>hsmomstef thanks for the reply</p>

<p>i am currently lacking club/event participation but i am working hard on that.</p>

<p>i am really up to date with the Chinese online community, and I have heard or found that international students (never been to america) that lived in china have a great chance getting into a good american college with a high TOFEL and SAT score</p>

<p>I do not know if I apply in their situation, because apparently I am on the same boat with those kids i described that live in China, only difference is that i have overcame the language barrier.</p>

<p>Since most people on this board are US citizens, they will be competing with each other. However in my case, I think I am competing with a much different crowd -- smaller, less (or in some sense, much more) diverse.</p>

<p>PS</p>

<p>I have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout my last 5 years in school. The 3.66 is just what I have combining the grade I have in my classes right now, so it's nothing final for this semester. I am very sure that the grade will be all A's by end of the semester when I turn in more assignments and do more quiz/tests.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
What that means is that you will be in a very competitive pool -- especially since you are Chinese.

[/quote]

That's not exactly correct. You do have to apply as an international student as you need an I-20 and there are financial consequences (e.g., proof of financial support; not eligible for federal/state funding, etc).</p>

<p>However, for admission, you will be evaluated with applicants from your HS as well as from your region. For UCB, you are in the same pool as other out-of-state applicants.</p>

<p>p.s. For most schools, there may be a target for internationals but not specifically for China.</p>

7

<p>I came to the US my junior year, and i didn't take TOEFL (applied to UC's and state U's). depending on the college u apply to, you don't have to take TOEFL if you've gone to a school that uses English for a certain number of years. (in your case, u likely won't have to take it)</p>

<p>u will be considered an international student. it could be good if u get a green card. I'm not sure but i've seen that the % of international applicants accepted into UC's is less then that of in-state applicants. but if international is counted as out-of-state, it's probably no difference whether u hold a greencard or not. but all of the financial aids that i've seen so far either require that u r a citizen or a permanent resident.</p>

8

<p>^^^^^^^
Yes, that will be the problem. Unless you apply to schools that are need blind for internationals (which you are in your current situation), you will have a very though time getting financial aid. Your problem will be more financial aid than admission.</p>

<p>You will need a H visa (not J or F) even before applying for a green card, which is unlikely to happen before you apply to colleges.</p>

<p>I guess my advice for you is to keep your grades at a 4.0 Do extremely well on the SAT/ACT. You will essentially be in the same situation as someone applying directly from China (same admission and financial aid challenges).</p>

<p>best of luck</p>

9

<p>there aren't any towns in alaska with 60,000 people......</p>

<p>^^^
sorry i'm just a stickler for geographic detail lol.</p>